🔗 Share this article

New York Jets coach Aaron Glenn revealed that he recently spoke with defensive back Kris Boyd and believes the player will recover well after suffering a gunshot wound in central New York in the early hours of Sunday.

Glenn shared that Boyd, who is hospitalized, was “upbeat” during a recent discussion.

“What reassures me, is that he’s feeling positive,” Glenn commented. “His family, they’re in good spirits and he will come through this without issue.”

The coach did not know when Boyd might be released the hospital, where his condition is described as in critical but steady condition.

“Don’t know just yet,” the coach said. “But I will say this, hearing him speak, his attitude was encouraging. Furthermore, that reassures me, that he feels like that and his words reflect that optimism.”

New York police released video stills earlier this week of an individual wanted in the attack on the player. The reason behind the incident remains under investigation and authorities said it is unknown if Boyd was the intended victim. There were no additional victims were reported.

The attack took place just after 2am on Sunday morning about halfway between the famous arena and Times Square. Boyd, 29, was taken to Bellevue Hospital after sustaining an abdominal gunshot wound, police said. The shooter fled the scene.

Glenn shared Boyd has been on his mind “a great deal” since learning of the incident. The coach said that Boyd and his spouse recently welcomed a baby.

“What immediately crossed my mind, he just had a kid,” Glenn remarked. “My mind went to his family, considering his child and I want to make sure that he’s OK. And that’s the only thing that really went through my mind.

“There’s a process to this, that I won’t detail, but I’m happy at the fact that his outcome looks very positive.”

Boyd did not participate during the current season, his first with the Jets, after going on the season-ending injured reserve list on mid-August with a shoulder injury that required surgery.

He joined the Jets as a free agent in March and was expected to be a significant contributor of an improved special teams group under the coach and special teams coordinator the special teams coach. Unfortunately, he sustained an injury during preseason drills on 2 August and was taken away on a cart.

Boyd has stayed involved with the squad during the entire campaign while recovering from the shoulder injury.

“He’s been a part of what we’re doing,” Glenn commented. “I mean, he attends every game. He’s fully engaged. As one of the league’s best on special teams, he’s done a really good job of helping the other guys we have.”

Boyd, hailing from the Lone Star State, began his career with the Vikings after being a seventh-round pick by Minnesota out of the University of Texas in 2019. He joined Arizona in last year and later was with the Texans after that. Boyd agreed to a one-year deal valued at $1.6 million with New York in the spring.